Jury selection begins for Graff heist trial

Jury selection has begun for the trial of the gang accused of robbing Graff’s New Bond Street store last year in what was Britain’s biggest jewellery heist.

The 10-week trial will commence at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Wednesday and 19 jurors have already been chosen. A further 12 are sue to be selected and sworn in on Tuesday.

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Nine defendants have been charged with in relation to the £40 million robbery at Graff, which took place on August 6 last year. The trial will be overseen by Judge Jeffrey Pegden QC.

During the infamous raid, the gang entered Graff’s New Bond Street store wearing laytex masks and forced a female employee to fill a bag with 43 pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth £40 million. The gang then escaped using a series of getaway cars and motorcycles and fired two gunshots during their escape.

All nine defendants have been charged with conspiracy to rob Graff jewellers, and two of the gang have also been charged with kidnap and possession of a deadly weapon